Can opener



' Nov. 15, 1955 Filed June 17, 1954 M. FRANK 2,723,451

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Nov. 15, 1955 M. FRANK CAN OPENER Filed June 17, 1954 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. flax EMMY United States Patent O CAN OPENER Max Frank, New York, N. Y.

Application June 17, 1954, Serial No. 437,324

4 Claims. (CI. 30-16) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved can opener having a pair of levers pivotally connected together with a pair of jaws one of which will grip a can and the other puncture its top as the levers are squeezed together.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the can opener so that anyone can open a can by the use of one hand only.

Still further, the present invention proposes providing the levers with guiding and aligning means so that they may be pivoted in the proper manner.

Yet another object of the present invention proposes arranging the levers so that they may be folded with the can puncturing blade shielded against blunting and to avoid injuring anyone carrying, handling or using the device.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the can opener of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the other side of the device.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the opener in folded or closed position.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a can and the opener in reduced scale showing the first step in opening the can with the device.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but with parts broken away and showing a later stage in the opening of the can.

The can opener of the present invention has a pair of levers 15 and 16 which are pivotally connected together by a bolt 17 and nut 18, the levers having bolt holes 19 and 20 (see Fig. 4), respectively, for the bolt 17.

Lever 15 has a handle end or portion 21 and lever 16 has a similar handle end or portion 22. The levers 15 and 16 have a pair of jaws at their other ends, lever 15 having a jaw 23 and lever 16 a jaw 24.

Bolts 17 pivotally connecting the levers together and providing the fulcrum for them is disposed near the jaws and remote from the tips of the handle ends so as to give good leverage.

Jaw 23 of lever 15 is a can gripping jaw and jaw 24 of lever 16 is a can puncturing jaw. law 23 contains a pair of closely spaced fingers 25 and 26 adapted to fit over and removably receive between them the rim 27 of a can 28 (see Figs. 5 and 6). law 23 also contains a can side bearing rest 29 adjacent to and spaced from the fingers 25 and 26.

law 24 of lever 16 contains a broad curved pointed blade 30 the lever 16 being twisted at 31 adjacent the 2,723,451 Patented Nov. 15, 1955 blade to dispose the blade perpendicular to the remainder of the lever. Blade 30 thus extends over the fingers 25 and 26 on lever 15 and a finger guide slot or opening 32 is formed in the rear of the blade 30 for the fingers to pass through as the levers are pivoted.

A stop abutment 33 (see Figs. 5 and 6) is provided on lever 15 adjacent the can side bearing rest 29. This abutment 33 limits the amount the jaws 23 and 24 can be opened, the lever 16 hitting the abutment as indicated in Fig. 5 when the handle ends 21 and 22 of levers l5 and 16 are apart to the maximum extent. In this position, the blade 30 is poised at the proper angle to enter the top 34 of can 28 when the fingers 25 and 26 engage the lip or rim 27 of the can.

Lever 16 has its handle 22 curved over at the tip 35 with a hook bottle opener 36 thereon to overlie lever 15 when the levers are in folded relation as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Also, when the levers are so folded the can side bearing rest 29 is adjacent blade 30 shielding it and protecting users of the device from being injured by the blade.

The new can opener can easily be operated with one hand so that anyone can open a can by using only one hand. The rim 27 of the can 28 is engaged between the fingers 25 and 26 While the levers are held apart and then merely by squeezing the handle ends 21 and 22 of the levers together the blade 30 will be guided into the top of the can and will pierce or puncture it as is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, said levers each having a handle end, can gripping means at the other end of one of said levers and can puncturing means at the other end of the other lever for puncturing the top of a can by operating the levers, said can gripping means being a pair of closely spaced fingers adapted removably to receive the rim of a can therebetween and a can side bearing rest adjacent to and depending from said fingers in spaced relation, said can puncturing means being a curved pointed blade.

2. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, said levers each having a handle end, can gripping means at the other end of one of said levers and can puncturing means at the other end of the other lever for puncturing the top of a can by operating the levers, said can gripping means being a pair of closely spaced fingers adapted removably to receive the rim of a can therebetween and a can side bearing rest adjacent to and spaced from said fingers, said can puncturing means being a broad curved pointed blade extending over said fingers with a finger guide opening therein for the fingers to pass through.

3. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, said levers each having a handle end, can gripping means at the other end of one of said levers and can puncturing means at the other end of the other lever for puncturing the top of a can by operating the levers, said can gripping means being a pair of closely spaced fingers adapted removably to receive the rim of a can therebetween and a can side bearing rest adjacent to and spaced from said fingers, said can puncturing means being a broad curved pointed blade extending over said fingers with a finger guide opening therein for the fingers to pass through, and a stop abutment on the lever containing the can side bearing rest to contact the other lever and limit the pivoting of the levers.

4. A can opener comprising a pair of levers pivotally connected together, said levers each having a handle end, can gripping means at the other end of one of said levers and can puncturing means at the other end of the other lever for puncturing the top of a can by operating the levers, said can gripping means being a pair of closely spaced fingers adapted reinovably to receive the rim of a can therebetween and a can side bearing rest adjacent to and spaced from said fingers, said can puncturing means being a broad curved pointed blade extending over said fingers with a finger guide opening therein for the fingers to pass through, and a stop abutment 0n the lever containing the can side bearing rest to contact the other lever and limit the pivoting of the levers, said blade lever being twisted adjacent the blade to dispose the blade perpendicular to the remainder of the lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

